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Glite Dictionary
to take someone's side

to take someone's side

11 3.0
Support someone in an argument when others disagree
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : ponerse del lado de alguien
  • I'm just saying, she acts like this 'cause you always take her side!
  • always take your boyfriend's side

Examples

  • I guess it is easy enough for you to take Gram's side, now that you've become the apple of her eye, the hope for her future.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • In the argument about the project, she decided to take his side and defend his decision.

  • Why do you take their side all the time?

    Carnage (2011)

  • Are you taking her side?

    Sinister Switch (2021)

  • So I would appreciate it if you would just take my side on this thing, okay?

    October Baby (2011)

  • Ok, take his side, because you always do anyway.

    Parental Guidance (2012)

  • You wanna take my side?

    Manny & Lo (1996)

  • Why do you guys automatically take his side?

    CHEST (2022)

  • Many intellectuals took the government's side and became followers of the official propaganda after 1989.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Surprisingly, President Kuffuor, initially elected in 2000, took Sidney's side in defending the song.

    Academic text (2009)

Synonyms

to defend
vsto take someone's side
691 2.8

To speak up to support a person or idea when others criticize it

is used to back a person in disputes emphasizing personal protection
to stand up for
vsto take someone's side
256 2.7

Defend or support someone who is treated unfairly

is used to give backing in disputes rather than only during unfair treatment
to side with
vsto take someone's side
96 3.6

Support a person or group in an argument

is used to defend and protect someone when others oppose them
to side
vsto take someone's side
88 4.3

To support one person or group in a dispute

is about backing someone in disagreement rather than neutral alignment
to stick up
vsto take someone's side
  • Informal
59 4.3

To support someone when others criticize or attack them

is used to back someone in disputes rather than only in attack situations
to take sides
vsto take someone's side
39 3.1

To support one side in an argument

is used to support and defend someone personally rather than just picking a position
to take sides with
vsto take someone's side
1 4.0

Support one person or group in a disagreement

is used to defend someone rather than merely aligning with a group
to stand up with
vsto take someone's side
1 3.9

Support and defend other people who share a cause

is used specifically in disputes rather than joining broad causes publicly
to take someone's part
vsto take someone's side
5.1

To support someone in an argument

is used mainly when others disagree and focuses on backing in conflict
to take up the cudgel
vsto take someone's side
  • Archaic
8.9

Begin to strongly defend a person or cause in public

is used for simple support in disputes rather than energetic public campaigning

Antonyms

to oppose
∞ 2.9

To be against something and try to stop it

to criticize
701 3.3

To say what is wrong with someone or something

How Supportive

to champion
64 4.2
to take someone's side
11 3.0
to back
932 1.0

Surface Forms

take someone's side infinitive
taking someone's side present participle
takes someone's side third person singular
took someone's side past
taken someone's side past participle

Morphology

take + someone's + side

The meaning 'to support or defend someone in a dispute' is directly derived from combining 'take' (assume or choose) with 'someone's' (possessive) and 'side' (a party or position); together they transparently mean to adopt that person's position. This compositional pattern is common across languages and follows a standard English argument metaphor, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should be able to infer the meaning.

Etymology

Take someone's side comes from the simple picture of standing next to someone in a fight or argument. To take their side means to stand on their side and help them, so it now means 'to support or defend someone'.